𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐖𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑: 𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐏𝐋 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐄𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠…. 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞

In a development that has thrilled supporters across the club’s historic fanbase, Derby County have officially welcomed back one of their greatest ever forwards, Kevin Hector, in a new senior coaching capacity.

Head coach John Eustace confirmed the appointment earlier today, describing it as a “powerful step in reconnecting the club’s proud past with its ambitious future.”

Hector, who remains one of Derby’s most iconic figures after scoring over 200 goals for the Rams, is expected to work closely with the first-team attacking unit while also mentoring younger players coming through the academy. His return has been greeted with emotional reactions from fans, many of whom regard him as one of the greatest players ever to wear the black and white.

Speaking after the announcement, Eustace said the club believes Hector’s experience, leadership, and deep understanding of Derby’s identity will help shape a winning culture as the team pushes for success and aims to strengthen its standing within English football.

Supporters gathered online and outside Pride Park to celebrate the news, with many calling it a “homecoming that feels bigger than a transfer.” Club officials also hinted that Hector will be involved in community outreach and heritage projects, reinforcing the connection between past legends and the modern squad.

For Derby County, this move is about more than football tactics — it’s about restoring pride, identity, and belief. And with Kevin Hector now back where he belongs, optimism is once again flowing strongly through the club.